Metalizing glass



Feb. 13, 1945 c. D. HAVEN 2,369,350

METALLI'ZING GLASS Original Filed Aug. 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheetl 3nventor Feb.,13, 1945 c. D. HAVEN j I 6 I flETALLIZING GLASS pri'ginal Filed Aug 22 1940 2 sheets sheet 2 v Patented Feb. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT orFicE I METAI JfZ IZ Z GLASS v Charles D. Haven. Toledo, Ohio, asslgnor to Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application August 22, 1940, Serial No. 353,590. Divided and this application February 11, 1942, Serial No. 430,415

4 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to the metalizing of glass and more particularly to the formation of a metal to glass joint.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 353,590, filed August 22, 1940, entitled"Metalizing glass. I

In the uniting of metal to glass by a soldering operation, it is necessary to first prepare a metallic coating upon the surface of the glass toglass, and which can be satisfactorily employed as the base coat for subsequent soldering opera tions. Briefly, the alloy disclosed in that application comprises a mixture of copper and titanium, and the relative percentages given therein by way of example and as having been used by me are /270 to 4"/z% titanium and the balance 4 copper. I discovered that such an alloy can be sprayed upon the glass in a" molten condition with a metalizing gun and that it will become incorporated with the surface of the glass to obtain permanent adhesion therewith.

As explained in my earlier application, Serial No. 297,815, I also discovered that the strength of the bond of the metal to the glass increased as the amount of titanium is increased. Further, that as the amount of titanium is increased, there is an increase in the fracture of the glass surface where the metal spray hits the glass resulting in almost microscopic chips being removed from the glass body. This fracture of the glass surface I term point shock. This point shock can be controlled to a degree by highly atomizing the metal spray so as to reduce the shock of any appreciable body of high temperature metal striking the glass surface. The effect of ira'cture to the glass surface, due to higher titanium content, i to bring about a condition where the metal coating on the glass can set up progressive separation from the glass surface, caused principally by the high number of fracture points; closely associated with one another.

The present invention constitutes an improvement upon th metalizing of glass as disclosed in my earlier application, Serial No. 291,815,

Thus, although the copper-titanium alloy of said application, has proven to be quite satisfactory in the metalizing of glass and particularly when used in the making of multiple glass sheet glazing units, I have discovered-that the addition of a relatively small amount of chromium to the copper and titanium results in an alloy which may be even more advantageously used in the metalizing of glass and to iorma base coat for subsequent soldering operations.

For instance, I have found that by the addition of the chromium to the copper and titanium a better bond is obtained between the metal and glass. An-

other decided advantage inthe addition of the chromium is that it has the effect of reducing the point shock upon the glass. Likewise, the addition of the chromium reduces the corrosive action or chemicalreactlon of the'metallic coating" thereby affecting the bond of the metal to the glass favorably not only at the glass-metal interface but also in the body of the metal itself.

Furthermore, the addition of the chromium to the copper and titanium renders the alloy more resistant to the destructive reactions of the sol-- dering fluxes used in subsequent soldering oper-- ations.

My improved alloy may be used in a large number of different ways for the soldering of glass to glass and metals to glass, so that the invention is not limited to the use of the alloy in connection with any particular soldering operation or operations or products, By way of example, however, it might be pointed out that this alloy can be advantageously used in the making of multiple glass sheet glazing units and especially that type of unit comprising two or more sheets of glass spaced apart by metal separator means which are bonded to the glasssheets around the marginal portions thereof, through the intermediary of a metallic coatingror coatings, to form an all glass -metal hermetically sealed structure. The metal separator means may consist of one or a plurality of strips, preferably of lead or other. ductile metal, extending around the marginal edge portions of the glass sheets and soldered to themetallic coating or coatings thereon.-

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. v1 is a perspective view of one form of multlp e glass sheet glaring unit in the construction I of which the present, invention may be utilized; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the glazing unit;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of one form of apparatus which maybe used for heating the marginal edge portions of the glass sheets and for applying the metallic coatings thereto;

Fig. 4 is a face view of one of the glass sheets,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective detail view showing the metal separator strip after it has been pre-coated with solder;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspectiveview showin the presence of moisture) to be an excellent method of determining the strength of bond between the metal and glass and have adopted it as a standard test for this purpose.

After considerable experimental and research work extending over a period of many months, in an effort to render possible the metalizin of glass surfacesh-y .the application of a coating of metal thereto'which is not affected by the presence of water r moisture and which can further be satisfactorily used as a base coat for subsequent soldering operations, I discovered that such a metallic'coating could be formed on the glass by using an alloy comprising a copper base to which is added a relatively small amount of titanium. As

' a matter of fact, I found that the addition of a ing the bonding or sweating of the metal separator strip toone of the glass sheets; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section through the glazing unit after the metal separator strip has been secured in position between two sheets of glass.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral l0 designates in its entirety a glass sheet glazing unit produced in accordance with my invention. This glazing unit consists generally of two sheets of glass l l and I2 arranged in spaced, substantially parallel relation to provide an insulating air space l3 therebetween. This air space is formed by the use of a metal separator strip or strips l4 joined to the glass sheets through the intermediary f the metallic coatings l5 and H3. The separator strips M are preferably arranged inwardly of the outer edges of the glass sheets to form a channel which may be filled with a suitable weather-proof seal ll. This seal may corisist either of an organic or inorganic materia As will be readily appreciated, two or more sheets of glass can be fabricated intoa glazing unit of this character, giving one or more spaces between adjacent glass sheets as occasion may require. Therefore, while the invention has been illustrated in the drawings and will be herein described as applied to a two sheet unit, it will be understood that the invention is in no way confined to any particular number of glass sheets used or spaces between the sheets.

As explained in my earlier application, Serial No. 297,815, it was customary, prior to that invention, to'form the metallic coatings IS on the glass sheets of pure copper. I found that under proper conditions of application the bond of the copper to the glass surface will be such that in a dry state satisfactory adhesion between the copper and glass can be obtained and that the copper will resist separation from the glass. surface by an attempt to scrape the metal from'the glass with a sharp razor blade. If, however, the edge of the razor blade is wet with water, the copper coating can be readily removed or peeled from the glass surface without noticeable pressure or effort, with the result that the copper can be completely removed. Since the copper can be removed in the presence of water, it is evident that surface adhesion only has taken place'and that this adhesion will fail in use when subjected to posed to the elements and subjected to all kinds, .of weather.

I have found the wet scrape test (i. e., the scraping of the metal with asharp blade relatively small percentage of titanium to the copper produced phenomenal results which were entirely unexpected. For instance, I found that the bond of thealloy to the glass surface was materially increased in strength and permanency and that it was impossible to remove the metal by scraping it with a sharp blade when dry. Even more remarkable, however, was the discovery that the bond is of such strength and permanency that it will effectively withstand the action of moisture and cannot be entirely removed even when scraped With a sharp blade in the presence of water. Furthermore, the adherence of the metal to the glass surface was not affected by the presence of water or oil and under these conditions resists the various strains to which a multiple glazing unit is subjected in use as well as the action of rain, frost, high humidity, and the oils of putty, when the unit is installed in windows. This phenomenon becomes of great importance when the metalized glass surface is exposed to the elements and in use is subjected to various strains.

The copper-titanium alloy of my earlier application, Serial No. 297,815, can be sprayed upon the glass with a metalizing gun and will adhere to the glass surface in a manner to produce an exceptionally strong and permanent bond between the glass and metal. Since a metal coat formed of such alloy cannot be entirely removed from the glass by the wet scrape test, it will be apparent that there is not merely surface adhesion between the metal and glass but an actual bonding or fusing of the glass surface and the metal of the alloy.

Notwithstanding the fact that the copper-titam'um alloy disclosed in my earlier application is quite satisfactory for the purposes intended. I continued my experimental and research work with the view of ultimately finding a more perfect alloy for the metalizing of glass and for forming a base coat for subsequent soldering operations. the addition of a relatively small amount of chromium to the copper and titanium. not only results in a noticeable increase in the strength of bond of the metal to glass when subjected to the wet scrape test, but also reduces the corrosive action or chemical reaction of the metallic coating both at the glass-metal interface and in the body of the metal; resists destructive reactions of the soldering fluxes, and offsets the tendency of the titanium to produce pointshock in the glass.

Although it is to be expressly understood that my invention is not limited to the use of any specific proportions or percentages of copper, ti-

tanium and chromium, I would suggest the use of an alloy com-prising approximately 1.75% to As pointed out above, I discovered that as the amount of titanium is increased, but that the increase in the amount of titanium used has a corresponding increase in the amount of point shock upon the glass. However, the point shock resulting from the titanium is not only reduced to some extent by the addition of the chromium but also that which does take place is finer and more or less evenly distributed.

It is preferred that the separator strips, I be made fromlead and that the lead strips and metallic coatings IS on the glass sheets be joined together by means of the layers It of solder or other inorganic bonding material. The soldering ofthe parts together isin effect a. sweat .job and metal thickness.

the materials are so controlled both as to composition and form that reinforcing or strengthening fillets cr accumulations of solder i8 and 18 are formed on both sides ofthe separator strips to strengthen the .construction and thus help to insure its permanency as will be more clearly hereinafter described.

The use of ordinary solder results in relatively high working temperatures with the soldering irons or other sources of heat whereby undesirable strains may be set up between the metal and the glass. Therefore, it is preferred to make use of a low; melting point solder with a wide plastic range of melting to reduce the temperature of applications and make use of a moreplastic range of the solidifying points of the solder for thepurp se of, easier assembly. There are a number of variations of soft solders which can be used and one which I have found to work satisfactorilyconsists of approximately 10 parts bismuth, parts lead, and parts tin.

Although, as stated above, the glass may be metalized when cold, it is preferred, especially in the fabricating-of multiple glazing units, that the marginal edge portions. of the glass sheets to be metalized be heated prior to the spraying of the metal thereon. In Fig. 3 is illustrated one typeof apparatus and method which can metal awmcn can be directed upon-the preselected portions of the glass sheets moving thereunder. I prefer that a spray gun he used in which the'copper titan'ium chromium alloy wire 24 is fed into the gun. melted, and sprayed in fine particles upon the glass. The deposit of metal upon the glass: is not only controlled by the relative position of the gun with respectto the glass; speedgof wire through the and speed of movement of the class} but also by a guard-member 28' which maybe for this the same glass temperature.

satisfactor results. Ifv too heavy, contraction strains in cooling will cause the alloy to lift glass particles from the glass surface in a pro-' gressive manner whereby the metal can be partially or wholly removed from the glass. If too thin, it will not provide a proper base for soldering operations as too much glass surface may be exposed. As a guide to thickness, I preferably 'use a thickness of metal which will just prevent the subsequent solder coating from showing through the glass and sprayed metallic coating. I find that this makes an excellent guide for Before the metal is sprayed upon the glass, the marginal portions of the glass sheet are first heated to the desired temperature.

size and thickness of glass, but in all cases where heating is resorted to, care should be exercised to avoid warpage of the glass. For ordinary plate and window glass, I have found a temperature of between 500 and 600 degrees F. to be satisfactory although this temperature may be varied to suit the particular metalizing operation. In fact, in

- some cases it may not be desired to heat the glass at all.

The alloy herein provided is of great value in permitting a satisfactory bond when applied to cold or cool glass. Inmetalizing glass sheets wherein the edges thereof are heated, I find that the glass, as for illustration glass 54; inch thick, will become bent or distorted at a given temperature, whereas thicker glass, as for illustration 4, inch thick,'may remain perfectly flat. at If the temperature is raised in both cases, it is possible for glass breakage to'take place. It is therefore obvious that the ability to lower the glass temperature when metalizing the edges, as described, will be 40 of practical benefit:

In order to provide a strong enough bond with other metals, such as pure copper; it has been be produced with lower glass temperatures if and when the size of the glass or thickness of the glass requires low glass temperatures to be used. While lower glass temperatures can also be used with the copper-titanium alloy of my earlier application, Serial No. 297,815, I have foundthat 5 the addition of the chromium permits a still cooler glass temperature to be used to produce equivalent results for any given glass thickness.

As the glass sheet is carried along by 'the conveyor 2| and before it reaches the metal spray gun 22, the forward marginal edge portion of the sheet, which projects beyond the conveyor, passes through. an electrical heating device 28. The number of heaters and lehgth of heating zone are dependent upon the speed of the machine and exact operating temperatures desired. After the glass sheet passes beyond the heating device 26 and just before the metal is sprayed thereon, the marginal edge portion thereof'is subjected to the action of one or more burners 21 which heat the surface-of the glass'to the desired maximum tem perature for the reception of the metal spray.

The heating means is so controlled that when the glass reaches a position under the metal spray gun, it is within the predetermined temperature range desired. ,I'he conveyor 'is preferably V The exacttemperature used will vary somewhat with the i 7 lead strips.

portion only of the glass sheet be heated, the

entire sheet may be heated if desired, and in some cases this may be found more satisfactory. The invention is also not limited to the use of any particular air pressure for atomization of the metal and, likewise, a wide range of flame and spray metal temperature can be used. Various gases and combinations of gases can also be used in the spraying operation, such as, for example,

acetylene, propane, and hydrogen, in combination with oxygen.

After one edge or marginal portion of the glass sheet has been coated with metal, it is of course necessary to similarly treat the remaining edges or marginal portions before fabricating the glass into a multiple glazing unit. A glass sheet having the four marginal portions thereof provided with the metallic coating I5 is shown in Fig. 4.

After the metallic coating l5 has'been applied to the glass sheet, it is then im'ther prepared by applying thereto the layer ii of solder which, as stated above, consists preferably of a low melting point solder. To insure a firm bond, a suitable soldering flux, of which there are a large number, is preferably used to obtain a permanent satisfactory union between the solder layer l6 and metallic coating IS .on the glass. This fiux can be applied to the metallic coating by means of a brush or in any other desired manner. a However, after the metallic coating 15 has been applied to the glas, there is a tendency toward oxidation thereof. Therefore, to facilitate tinning of the metal coated glass, this oxidation should be removed before the flux is applied and for this purpose the metallic coating may be sub-- jected to a fine hydrogen fiame. The flux treated metallic coating-may then be coated with the layer of solder 16 in the manner. shown in Fig. 5,

wherein a soldering iron 28 is being run over the metallic coating to leave the solder layer thereon. After two sheets of glass have been provided with the metallic coatings l5 and I8 they are adapted to be secured together in spaced substantially parallel relation as shown inFig. 1 by means of the interposed metal separator strips I. .The separator strips H are preferably formed of lead or a lead alloy and to enable Joining of the strips to the metal coated glass sheets there is applied to both sides of the strips along the marginal edges thereof, first a flux and then a deposit of solder 29 (Fig. 6).

, with substantial deposits of solder An electric iron 30 or other heating means may be employed to elevate the temperature of the solder deposits 29 and the solder coating IE to induce flowing of the solder to produce a fillet IS on one side of the separator strips and a second fillet I9 on the opposite side of said strips. In this way, the solder completely surrounds the edges of the separator strips iving what may be called a sweat joint andproducing fillets on both sides of the separator strips to give a balanced type of joint capable of standing strain and stresses in both directions laterally of said separator strips. 7

For purposes of illustration, the fillets iii and I9 are shown as separate from the layer of solder B6 on the metallic coating l5. While these solder deposits are of course independent of one another initially, part of the solder being applied originally to the separator strips and the other solder being applied'to the metalized coating on the glass, during the joining together the solder of course blank or amalgamates into asingle mass or volume of solder permanently adherent to the separator strips and metalized coating on the glass and shaped as fillets for mechanical strength.

In joining the metal separator strips II to the first sheet of glass, it is obviously possible to apply the'soldering iron 30 to both sides of the separator strips for soldering purposes, but this of course is impossible when the second sheet of glam is being joined to the separator strips. However, by preparing the separator strips i4 28 on both sides thereof, the heat the strips is suflicient to cause proper flowing of the solder on both sides. That is, in Fig. 'l proper control of temperature application with the iron 8| in the manner-shown will result in the formation of not only the fillet l8 upon that side of the separator strips in contact with the iron but will also result in formation of the fillet i9 on the opposite side of the separator strips.

' is then preferably inverted over a second sheet of The solder deposits 29 applied to the edges of I the separator strips ll consist preferably of a v low melting point solder having a wide plasticv range with a minimum plastic temperature. The

use of a low melting point solder is also of benefit during the time of sweating the soldered metallic coating on the glass 'tothe soldered lead separator strip whereby a low temperature iron may be used without danger of melting down the glas 3! as illustrated in job completed by heating element on theexterior coating of solder 29 carried by the separator strips N. This. as has already been explained, will result in'sweating together or joining the separator strips and prepared metallic coatings on the glas as well as formation of the fillets l8 and I8. While I have referred. tothe separator means as comprising metal strips, 8. single length of metal may Fig. 8, and the soldering be used for the separator and shaped to form a continuous strip. I

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same,

and that various changes in the shape, size and To join the prepared metal strip I4 to one of the glass-sheets, they are associated therewith substantially as shown in Fig. '7. Ordinarily. it is desirable to place the separator strips back from the edges of. the glass sheet and approximately centrally of the metallic coating arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting drom the spirit of the invention o 7 the scope of the subjoined claims. v

I claim. 1. a Joint between a glass element and a metal 5 element, including a sprayed metallic coating II to produce the channel for receiving the Weather-proofing seal l1, although this isoi --cm1rseamatterofchoicc.-

applied to the east element formed from an alloy comprising approximately 1.75% to 2.25% titanium. approximately 40% to chromium and thebalance substantially all copper, and a solder connection between the metallic coating n theglass and the metal element.

2. The. process ofmetalizlng' Class. including applied on one side of operating the iron or other the step 01' spraying a molten metal alloy upon theglass comprising approximately 1.75% to 27.25% titanium, approximately-.40% to .60% chromium and the balance substantially all 3. The process. of metalizing glass, including the steps of heating those portions of the glass approximately 1.75% to 2.25% titanium, approximately .40% to .60% chromium and the balance substantially all copper.

4. The process of metalizing glass to form a base coatcfor subsequent soldering operations, including the stepof spraying a molten metal alloy upon the glass comprising approximately 1.75% to 2.25% titanium, approximately .40% to .60% chromium and the balance substantially all copper, and in controlling the application of the molten metal to the glass so that the thickness thereof will be suflicient to prevent a coating of solder app-lied thereto from showing through the glass.

- CHARLES D. HAVEN. 

